He takes a step back, but he doesn’t leave. He just stands there, staring at me like he’s memorizing my face. Like he’s committing every detail to memory.
“Cillian,” I say softly, “you have to go.”
A shadow flits across his eyes. “Goodbye, Saoirse.”
My heart feels like it’s caving in on itself. “Cillian…”
He doesn’t stay to hear the rest. Maybe that’s a good thing, because I have no idea what I’m about to say.
He turns and starts running.
I take a step forward and watch him retreat down the corridor. As he rounds the corner, we lock eyes one last time.
And then he’s gone.
I go to the window at the end of the hall. I see him burst out of the hospital and jump into a waiting cab.
He doesn’t look back.
I wait and watch until the cab shrinks.
Until it turns into a tiny yellow blip on the horizon.
Until it vanishes from sight.
And then I wait some more.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper to him through the pane of glass, hoping that some part of him knows just how sorry I am.
It strikes me that he’s the only one who’s ever kept a promise to me.
Or at least, he tried to.
I wish I could have at least told him how much that means to me.
Maybe I can stand here forever. Maybe if I don’t leave this spot, then time will freeze and I won’t ever have to go back into the hospital room.
But of course, time doesn’t work that way.
Life doesn’t, either.
I feel Tristan’s presence a second before he speaks.
“You did the right thing, Saoirse.”
I whirl around, meeting his nasty grey eyes. There’s a satisfied smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth. He looks even uglier when he’s happy.
I push past him and go back into the room.
Of course, he follows me. He’s incapable of giving me even a moment to myself.
I can sense his possessiveness already. And I know he wants to suffocate Cillian’s presence in my heart.
I head straight for the en-suite bathroom and pour myself a glass of water. I’m not really thirsty. I just want to keep my hands busy.
Any excuse not to look at him.
“Your performance was wonderful,” Tristan continues. “I almost believed you myself.”